Unconscious Bias Courses Via Theatre FAQ

At Steps, we strongly believe in the importance of behavioural change for organisations to succeed. With over 25 years of experience, we have been assisting clients from all over the world in creating behaviour change initiatives that are engaging and transformative. Our expertise lies in our use of interactive drama and creative learning techniques, including virtual, live, and media-based interventions, to produce a long-lasting change in the workplace.

We are firm believers that people learn best when they are challenged and engaged. Our immersive experiences are designed to reflect the real-life difficulties that our clients encounter, assisting individuals and teams in developing the skills, attitudes, and behaviours required to thrive in the current fast-paced and ever-changing business environment.

Our team has gained a reputation as an industry leader in behavioural change due to our knowledge and experience. We collaborate with clients from various sectors, from global corporations to non-profit organisations, to provide customised solutions that address their specific requirements and challenges.

Is Unconscious Bias Training Effective?

The training offered by organisations to address unconscious bias in the workplace has become a popular tool in recent times. However, its effectiveness is a subject of debate. While some believe it is necessary to create a more inclusive workplace, others doubt its ability to achieve meaningful change.

The approach taken by an organisation is vital to the success of unconscious bias training. One-time, standard training sessions are unlikely to lead to significant changes. Instead, an all-inclusive approach that includes consistent training, leadership commitment, and accountability measures is crucial.

Ongoing unconscious bias training that suits the specific needs of an organisation can lead to positive outcomes, according to research. For instance, the University of California, San Francisco, discovered that ongoing training that focuses on building empathy and self-awareness could decrease implicit bias’s impact on decision-making.

In conclusion, unconscious bias training can create meaningful change if part of a comprehensive strategy that includes consistent training, leadership commitment, and accountability measures.

Why Do Unconscious Bias Training?

A question we’re often asked is whether a company should commit to doing unconscious bias training. Many business owners and managers are largely unfamiliar with the significant impact unconscious biases can have on the workplace and how detrimental this can be. That’s where the necessary training can help.

Unconscious bias refers to our attitudes and beliefs towards specific groups of individuals that are founded on preconceptions and stereotypes. These biases can have an adverse impact on our decision-making and lead to an unfair and unequal work environment.

As such, unconscious bias training is crucial for creating a more inclusive workplace. By developing awareness about the existence and impact of unconscious bias, organisations can challenge these biases and create a more equitable and just workplace.

Furthermore, unconscious bias courses via theatre can also benefit organisations in several other ways. For example, studies have shown that diverse teams are more innovative and productive. By decreasing the impact of unconscious bias on decision-making, organisations can create a more diverse and inclusive workforce that is better equipped to tackle the challenges of the 21st century.

In conclusion, unconscious bias training is essential for creating a more inclusive and equitable workplace. Additionally, it can provide organisations with benefits like innovation and productivity by reducing the impact of unconscious bias on decision-making.

How Does Unconscious Bias Training Work?

Unconscious bias training is a process that helps individuals and teams to identify and challenge their biases. The training usually involves interactive sessions, exercises, and discussions that promote awareness of unconscious bias and its impact on decision-making.

Participants in the training learn to identify their unconscious biases, understand how biases can influence their thoughts and actions, and develop strategies to challenge them. Unconscious bias training can promote a more inclusive and equitable work environment by providing individuals and teams with the tools and strategies needed to challenge their biases.

To be effective, unconscious bias training should be tailored to the specific needs and challenges of the organisation. It should include ongoing training, leadership support, and accountability measures to ensure that individuals and teams are responsible for promoting inclusion and diversity. Additionally, the training should be conducted in a safe and inclusive environment that encourages open dialogue and feedback.

Some common approaches to unconscious bias training include self-reflection exercises, role-playing, case studies, and group discussions. The training can also incorporate multimedia tools like videos and podcasts to facilitate learning.

By promoting self-awareness and empathy and fostering a more inclusive work environment, unconscious bias training can help individuals and teams recognise and challenge their biases. This, in turn, can lead to a more diverse and productive workforce.

Where Do Our Unconscious Biases Come From?

Unconscious biases are formed through a combination of our experiences, upbringing, and societal norms and can be influenced by various factors, including:

• Gender
• Race
• Ethnicity
• Religion
• Sexual Orientation
• Other Personal Characteristics

The media and cultural stereotypes also shape our biases by reinforcing or challenging our preconceptions about certain groups of people.

While unconscious biases are a natural part of the human experience and can help us navigate complex social situations, they can also lead to unfair and unequal outcomes in the workplace when left unchecked.

Recognising the sources of our biases and challenging them can help create a more inclusive and equitable workplace. Unconscious bias training is a valuable tool in this process, as it can raise awareness of unconscious biases and provide individuals and teams with the necessary tools and strategies to challenge them.

To overcome unconscious biases, we need to engage in self-reflection, education, and exposure to diverse perspectives. Reflecting on our biases and being open to learning and growth can help us develop greater self-awareness and empathy, which can lead to a more inclusive and equitable work environment.

How Unconscious Bias Can Be Avoided

Unconscious biases can be avoided by developing self-awareness, challenging our assumptions, and creating a diverse and inclusive work environment.

Developing self-awareness is the first step towards avoiding unconscious bias. By reflecting on our own biases, we can begin to understand how they shape our thoughts, actions, and decision-making processes. Regular self-reflection exercises and ongoing training can be effective ways to build self-awareness and challenge our biases.

Challenging our assumptions is also crucial for avoiding unconscious bias. We should actively seek out diverse perspectives and experiences to challenge stereotypes and other preconceived notions. This can be achieved by promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace through diverse hiring practices, leadership training, and team-building exercises.

Creating a diverse and inclusive work environment is also essential for avoiding unconscious bias. By promoting a culture of respect and inclusivity, we can create a workplace where all individuals feel valued and heard. This can be achieved through ongoing unconscious bias training, diversity and inclusion programs, and leadership support.

In summary, avoiding unconscious bias requires a commitment to self-reflection, challenging our assumptions, and creating a diverse and inclusive work environment. By fostering a culture of self-awareness and inclusivity, organisations can create a more equitable and just workplace.

Check Out Our Steps to Change Program

We have developed a four-stage process called Steps to Change, which is a proven method for creating long-lasting change in organisations. Our approach has received high evaluation scores from clients, which demonstrates its effectiveness.

The Steps to Change process involves four stages:

• See It
• Own It
• Change It
• Live It

In the See It stage, delegates are shown the current culture of their organisation using actors or bespoke videos, which helps them understand the need for change. The Own It stage involves various techniques to help individuals believe in the value or necessity of the change. The Change It stage focuses on developing new skills and behaviours through tailored role play, coaching, and simulations. Finally, the Live It stage maintains momentum and embeds the change into the organisational culture.

We are confident that our approach to creating lasting behaviour change in organisations can benefit you and your employees greatly. To learn more about our Steps to Change process and how it can help your organisation achieve its diversity and inclusion goals, please contact us today. You can reach us by phone at +44 (0) 20 7403 9000, email at mail@stepsdrama.com, or through our website contact form. We are excited to discuss how we can help your organisation achieve significant, long-term change.